Massage Insurance Guidelines for Alabama

As one of the states that require a licensed massage therapist to carry professional liability insurance, in Alabama, it is important to know where to purchase your policy in order to protect yourself and your practice for an affordable price. Alabama state guidelines require that you purchase massage therapy liability protection against malpractice lawsuits and other types of claims. There are of course other policy coverage options, including general liability coverage, as well as coverage for damage of equipment, and rental damage coverage. Depending on the type of practice you run, it is important to consider all levels and compare rates to find a great policy.

When working towards becoming licensed, applicants will first have to complete the state-required minimum of 650 class hours with a licensed institution for their education. Upon completing the hours, applicants have to complete and pass the NCETMB and get personal liability ($1,000,000 limit) coverage, as prerequisites to becoming licensed in the state. Renewing your license is required every 2 years at a charge of $100. In some cities or counties, it is also a requirement that licensed therapists carry an additional license to practice in that locality. And, renewal of the license will also be required if it is required to practice in a specific city. Before applying in any area, it is a good idea to find out if there are any city, municipality, or other local requirements, in terms of licensing and renewal fees, as well as additional coverage requirements for insurance.

A policy with a $1,000,000 limit in personal liability is required for any licensed therapist to be able to practice in the state of Alabama. Due to the fact that there are several other coverage options with differing limits, it is a good idea to find out how much coverage is available for what cost in order to find the policy that will give you the most coverage for the cost.

Not only will having a professional massage therapist insurance policy protect your reputation as a professional LMT in Alabama, having liability insurance may protect you financially from a lawsuit that could otherwise bankrupt your massage practice.

The following are Alabama state resources, including some employment statistics, to help you determine if being a massage therapist is right for you:

Alabama Massage Therapy Resources:

State of Alabama massage employment statistics as of May, 2017:
Licensed Therapists: 1,400
Mean Hourly Wage: $15.52
Annual Mean Wage: $34,350
Source: https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes_al.htm

Education Requirements
Required Education Hours: 650 hours
Exam Administered: MBLEx
CEUs Required: 16 hours every 2 years
Source: https://www.massagetherapylicense.org/state/alabama-massage-license.html

Other Requirements: Liability Insurance
For one low flat fee, massage therapists can receive the quality, comprehensive coverage they deserve, avoiding the costly impact that a lawsuit can bring. Even the most careful massage therapists can make a mistake, or encounter one of those hard-to-please clients that finds fault in a treatment, even if nothing really went wrong.
Application Process: Online Application for immediate approval.

For additional information about massage therapy in Alabama, follow these links:
State massage association: Alabama Board of Massage Therapy 
State employment stats: https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes_al.htm

Compare Alabama’s massage therapist employment statistics to other states:
https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes319011.htm